In celebration of Black History month this February, we’re highlighting a few great sources for the study of African American history in Vassar Libraries’ collections.

First, a moment from Vassar History: The Urban Center for Black Studies, located in Poughkeepsie, housed the first black studies program at Vassar in 1969. Contact Vassar’s Archives and Special Collections Library if you are interested in learning more about African American history at Vassar.

• The The African American National Biography is an essential encyclopedic reference source of who’s who.
• The Black Studies Center database provides access to a variety of resources including the influential newspaper, the Chicago Defender and Schomburg Studies on the Black Experience, a collection of interdisciplinary essays written by leading scholars, including Vassar professor of Art, Lisa Gail Collins.
• The library also has copies of For their courage and for their struggles: the black oral history project of Poughkeepsie, New York.  This was compiled by Lawrence Mamiya, professor of Religion and Africana studies.

The library also has a rich collection of African American newspapers and periodicals and there are many research treasures that remain available only on microfilm.

Always remember that you can Ask a Librarian for help with these materials or with any other research you are doing!